# Ring-tailed Lemur (*Lemur catta*) Ring-tailed lemurs are fun and playful animals with long, striped tails. They live in groups and love to jump around in trees, making them very lively and social creatures! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Lemur, Ring-tailed Lemurs ![Ring-tailed Lemur](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lemur_catta_001.jpg&width=800) Photo: Alex Dunkel ( Maky ), CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lemur_catta_001.jpg) ## Appearance The Ring-tailed Lemur is easily recognized by its long, bushy tail ringed with alternating black and white bands. It has soft grey fur on its back, a white belly, and a distinctive white face with dark, triangular patches around its eyes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Primates - **Family:** Lemuridae - **Genus:** Lemur ## Interesting facts - Male lemurs wave smelly tails in 'stink fights' to challenge rivals! - Their incredible striped tail is often longer than their entire body! - These unique primates are found only on the exotic island of Madagascar! - They sunbathe like tiny yogis, sitting upright to warm up in the sun! ## Special abilities - **Balance Master:** Ring-tailed Lemur has an extra-long, striped tail that helps them balance while leaping between trees. - **Sun Worshipper:** Ring-tailed Lemur can sunbathe by sitting upright, warming their bellies and soaking up solar energy. - **Scent Communicator:** Ring-tailed Lemur has special scent glands that help them mark territory and communicate important messages. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 39-46 cm - **Weight:** 2.2-3.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 16-19 years - **Speed:** 18 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 135 days ## Diet & Feeding They eat many different plants, mostly fruits and leaves, but also insects! - **Primary Foods:** Tamarind fruit, Leaves, Flowers, Insects, Tree sap - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Fossa](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fossa) (*Cryptoprocta ferox*) — The Fossa hunts lemurs in Madagascar's forests. - **Eats:** Tamarind tree (*Tamarindus indica*) — Its sweet fruit and leaves are a favorite food source. - **Eaten by:** Madagascar Harrier-Hawk (*Polyboroides radiatus*) — This hawk preys on young lemurs from the sky. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch lemurs from a distance and don't try to touch them, as they are wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ring-tailed Lemur? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Ring-tailed Lemur? 39-46 cm ### How much does Ring-tailed Lemur weigh? 2.2-3.5 kg ### How long does Ring-tailed Lemur live? 16-19 years ### How fast can Ring-tailed Lemur move? 18 km/h ### What does Ring-tailed Lemur eat? They eat many different plants, mostly fruits and leaves, but also insects! ### Where is Ring-tailed Lemur usually found? Forests ### How does Ring-tailed Lemur hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Bronx Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bronx-zoo) — New York, US · Zoo - [Cameron Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cameron-park-zoo) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Colchester Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colchester-zoo) — England, GB · Zoo - [Cotswold Wildlife Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cotswold-wildlife-park) — England, GB · Zoo - [Detroit Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/detroit-zoo) — Michigan, US · Zoo - [Fota Wildlife Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fota-wildlife-park) — Municipal District of Cobh, IE · Zoo [View all places to see Ring-tailed Lemur](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/ring-tailed-lemur) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Ring-tailed Lemur: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ring-tailed-lemur)